Newsletter

Letters to the Editor Tuesday

Once again, Leonard Pitts defines why people like me are white. I’m referring to his column “A few more thoughts on ‘thug’” published Feb. 13.

A black columnist who’s syndicated, Pitts writes about the shooting death of a black teen in Jacksonville, Fla.

Using the term “thug,” Pitts writes the white shooter used the term prior to shooting, as proof it was a racist act. He mentions the statement of the Seattle cornerback who spoke insultingly in a post game interview, about his black opponent and was later labeled a “thug.”

He includes a description of Richard Sherman as Stanford-educated. Proving, if you are black and educated, you can’t be a thug. Further proof, the person who used the term is a racist if he was white.

The shooting suspect will get his day in court, but I won’t.

Pitts writes that if you imagine a California girl as a “sun-kissed blonde” and her chess prodigy companion as a white boy, then you are biased.

These imaginations, in particular, are racially “encoded,” writes Pitts. If, however, you thought of Tara Banks as the California girl or the Ugandan chess champion, Phiona Mutesi, instead, you are not using racially “encoded” thoughts, just like Pitts.

I listened to the Beach Boys sing “California Girls” before Tara Banks was born. I never once pictured Whoopi Goldberg when they sang it. Honest.

I also watched multiple “Rocky” movies and thought of Sylvester Stallone’s character as the ultimate thug. I never thought of Walter Payton, Jerry Rice or Barry Sanders as thugs, either or ever.

So I’m totally confused now. Does that mean I’m a white racist or just an encoded white guy?

CHARLIE OLENICK

Savannah

Savannah Arts gets more scrutiny, pressure

There has been much discussion and mud-flinging about Savannah Arts Academy over the past few weeks. As a graduate from this exemplary school, I would like to offer my viewpoint.

First, it is indeed a public school. It is subject to the same rules and policies as all schools of the Savannah-Chatham school system. The difference is instead of being a districted school with a magnet program, it is a specialty school focused solely on the arts.

In reality, SAA receives greater scrutiny and pressure than the other schools because of its high achievements. Everyone is watching and waiting for any failures.

Second, the rigor of the paired academic-arts curriculum is far from easy to manage. Hours are spent on arts and hours are spent on academics. Most of these students will tell you they probably average about five hours of sleep a night.

But the outcome is worth the effort. Finally, if you feel as though your school is being pushed under the rug, then I would implore you to be proactive in your school: join the PTA, contact your board representatives, start an extra-curricular program.

Demonizing and complaining does nothing to solve the problem.

DUSTIN STEWART

Savannah

Early child education improves all schools

The Savannah Morning News on Feb. 12 had considerable discussion about whether or not Garrison School for the Visual and Performing Arts graduates should be guaranteed admission to the Savannah Arts Academy.

I do not feel that any guarantee was implied, nor should be for those students who decided to attend this magnet elementary school. I do feel, however, that those who chose the public school experience at Garrison would, more likely than not, be the ones who actually did achieve the necessary credentials to be considered for the SAA’s lottery method of acceptances.

Furthermore, I feel that the likelihood of completing a high school education with a good record is more a result of the persistent educational drive of the parent-child unit, rather than at which high school this student matriculates.

The real educational issue here is one being discussed only superficially, with the talk nationally about establishing universal Pre-K for 4-year-old children. This emphasis leaves out correcting the lag in good parenting skills of “have-not” families and the strengthening of teaching skills of the child care caregivers for a child: birth to 3 years old.

Emphasis in these two areas would significantly strengthen all children, increase the need for a second magnet high school and lead to better graduation rates for all of the Savannah high schools.

THOMAS A. CLARK, M.D.

Retired Pediatrician

Savannah

Why liberals are wooing convicted felons

Attorney General Eric Holder wants voting rights restored to convicted felons. He labels them — where have we heard this before — as disenfranchised.

First, they chose to disenfranchise themselves. Second, and most annoying, is the increasing attempt to remove accountability for one’s actions, particularly when it comes to crime.

You do have to give liberals credit for not trying to side step their one, and only, objective: to create an eternal, indebted, blinder-wearing voter base.

They’ve got dead folks, illegal immigrants and the uninsured wrapped up. Guess the felons were the next obvious target.

CHARLIE DAVIS

Savannah

If Sand Gnats want to fly away, let them

It’s interesting the mayor and aldermen have now expressed “hesitation” on whether a new stadium for the Sand Gnats is feasible given the team’s negotiations with Columbia, S.C.

It’s about time. The 2000 study supposedly identified several “problems” with Grayson Stadium:

• Lack of parking. Has anyone attending a game ever been unable to find a place to park within walking distance? And it’s free.